Mexicans celebrate Sept. 16 as Independence Day, the date when the native people threw out the Spanish oppression they had endured for 300 years.
The Mexican Independence was a long and challenging political and social process, which ended the rule of Spain over “New Spain” (now México). During that period, México was striving to become free from the oppression and tyranny of “the hated ‘gachupines’ (Spaniards born in Spain and living in México), who had been exploiting the wealth of the Mexican people” since the Spaniards invaded México in 1521, writes Enrique Krauze, author of México: Biography of Power.
According to a chronicle of the time, Napoleon Bonaparte invaded Spain in 1808 and México took advantage to initiate the independence movement to shake off the Spanish yoke while Spain was involved in defending its own territory.
The military commander, Ignacio Allende, was one of the most notorious leaders of this revolt. He knew that the Mexicans were faithful followers of the Catholic church and invited Don Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla, a 57-year old priest from an old family of “criollos” (Mexican-born Spaniards), to persuade the people to rise up in arms.
Hidalgo had been conspiring for months with comrades to rebel against the “gachupines” on Oct. 12, 1810. However, “infiltrators compromised” the original date and this caused Hidalgo to speed up the rebellion.
“Thus, early on the morning of Sept. 16,” Hidalgo ran to the church and “clanked the church bells,” calling to all the people to gather, “to proclaim the Independence of his Nation.” A small and poorly armed group of Indians, Mestizos, Mulattoes and others holding “the Banner of la Virgin de Guadalupe,” were present.
Hidalgo’s followers responded to the call with whatever was at their disposal: sticks, machetes, knives, stones, slings and spears. They all shouted in agreement “with hoarse cries of ‘Long live México! Long live the Virgin of Guadalupe! Let’s go kill the gachupines!’” It is “a ritual now repeated with much commercial zest throughout México on the eve of Sept. 16, also known as “Mexican night,” author John Ross writes in The Annexation of México.
Since 1810, the Independence movement went through several phases as its leaders were imprisoned and executed by the forces of Spain. According to a chronicle of the time, some of the most relevant accomplishments achieved by Hidalgo and Allende during the first phase were the abolition of slavery, reforms that would bridge the huge gap between the rich and the poor and doing away with the payment of tribute.
Then, “Jose Maria Morelos y Pavon, a Mulatto priest of Michoacán, inherited Hidalgo’s decimated army.” Nevertheless, he continued fighting for the rights of the oppressed nation. He edited “The National Sentiments,” in which “he requested the Independence of México from Spain,” Ross says.
After the death of Morelos on Dec. 22, 1815, on San Cristobal Ecatepec, the movement was reduced to a guerrilla war. It was one of the most difficult times of the insurrection, which led to the emergence of Vicente Guerrero, who “took up the torch” of the revolt and kept alive the hopes of the nation, Ross writes.
A turning point in the movement was the alliance of Guerrero and Agustin de Iturbide, known as “Acatempan’s embrace,” on Feb. 10, 1821. This union led to the representatives of the Spanish crown and Iturbide signing the Treaty of Cordova, which recognized Mexican Independence under the terms of the Plan de Iguala, according to Ross.
After 11 years of struggle, the war of Independence became a reality on Sept. 27, 1821, when the army of insurgents entered México City. That put an end to 300 years of Spanish tyranny against the Aztec people, Ross says.
Sept. 16 is a great opportunity for all Mexicans to set aside differences and come together to celebrate in honor of the heroes of independence. According to Ross, this insurrection took a toll of 600,000 lives that made possible today’s freedom.
In the Mexican community, people celebrate this important event by indulging themselves with “quesadillas, gorditas, mole, tostadas, pozole, chalupas and tacos” (Mexican traditional dishes), along with “Tequila, pulque y mezcal” (Mexican traditional drinks).
The night of “The Cry of Independence” is enlivened by the mariachis and bandas.
–Marco Villa contributed to this story
